Go public with drug allegations, Jones urges

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An angry Marion Jones has slammed anti-doping chiefs as the BALCO boss makes a plea to President George Bush. Jacquelin Magnay reports.

Triple Olympic gold medallist Marion Jones has demanded a public forum to hear the allegations made against her, as the man who holds the key to the biggest US drugs-in-sport controversy, Victor Conte, made an offer to US President George Bush to tell all in return for a plea bargain to avoid jail.

Conte, the 53-year-old owner of the BALCO nutrition company who has been charged with money laundering and fraud, and faces about two years jail, told the US President, through his lawyer, that he wanted to help clean up the Olympics. Conte claimed "everyone in this country has great interest in avoiding the shame of being branded a country of 'cheaters.' "

Conte's lawyer, Robert M. Holley, said in a two-page letter to Bush that: "I appeal to you to aid in a plea negotiation which could ultimately prove extremely beneficial to the national interest . . . the possible maximum penalty for Mr Conte isn't much, it certainly isn't much when compared with the massive good that these gentlemen could do for the logo of the USA. Mr Conte is willing to reveal everything he knows about officials, coaches and athletes in order to help clean up the Olympics."

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The willingness of Conte to squeal on his former cheating clients, if his deal is accepted by the Bush Administration, will reverberate around the world and impact dramatically on the composition of the US team to contest the Athens Olympics.

Conte is supposed to have spoken to federal investigators about the drug regimes of 27 athletes and baseballers, but his evidence may help investigators unlock the codes as to the identities of scores of other athletes who have used his illegal, and sometimes undetectable, products. It would also help fast-track the anti-doping cases being built against some athletes, who are resisting the pressure because they have not failed any drug test.

Jones is one of the 30 high-profile US athletes and baseballers who fronted a grand jury into BALCO activities and has since been linked to the company through documents seized in federal raids. At least five other top-ranked athletes - Jones's partner and world 100 metres record holder Tim Montgomery, Olympic medal twins Alvin and Calvin Harrison, Chryste Gaines and Michelle Collins - have had formal notification that they are being investigated for a drugs offence in light of evidence gained from the BALCO files.

Yesterday, a defiant Jones went on the offensive, telling a press conference she had "never, ever taken performance enhancing drugs". She called the US anti-doping agency's processes a "kangaroo court" and demanded that all future questions and answers be held in public. She has answered questions from USADA twice but is clearly frustrated at the failure of the agency to clear her name.

"Despite all of its leaks and rumour-mongering USADA has yet to produce one credible shred of information against me," Jones said.

"I should have been cleared a long time ago. This is a constant distraction. I want this done today. I want this done yesterday. I want my name cleared and move on. What are we waiting for?"

A Federal investigator's report leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle says that Conte admitted providing the undetectable steroid now known as tetrahydrogestrinone to Jones and Montgomery.

The president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Dick Pound, told The Washington Post that the US risked a big credibility loss over the Jones allegations.

"It's almost better for an independent arbitrator to look at it and say, 'There's no case here,' than for USADA to resolve not to do anything because of insufficient evidence," Pound said.

But under intensive questioning from the media, Jones, who wore a symbolic white dress to proclaim her innocence, gave confusing information before admitting she had had dealings with BALCO. She said she only ever took vitamins supplied by the company.

She said she was sent a zinc-magnesium nutritional supplement called ZMA from 1999 to 2001. Jones said her former husband, CJ Hunter, who was banned for taking steroids, was "pretty much the contact" with Conte's company.

Conte has also had links with several other prominent track coaches, apart from Remi Korchemny, who trained disgraced British sprinter Dwain Chambers. Korchemny also faces federal charges.